disturbances

nostalgia

2008-03-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

Why is it the feeling of nostalgia so liberating? Well, for me. It’s a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition. On periods of restlessness, I find myself looking into something that evokes nostalgia.

It liberates my emotions deeply buried in the deepest recesses of my heart, feeling of betrayal, of discontentment, of vengeance and of disappointment. The small sobs, a long lingering thought of the past and staring blankly of the good life surrounding me, allow me to freed the unbridled pain of the past.

Hahaha am actually referring to my high school life. This is the period of my life that I don't want to look back. But mind you, this is the same period that molded my values and the foundation of my being as a human. My high school days were spent only in the realm of academics, school activities, and comfort of home.

But now, I seem to miss my classmates. Looking into their friendster profile, they are everywhere, building their worth in the world. I have regretted that I did not participate in our HS reunion last December. Yeah, it's already a decade since we left the portals of the Notre Dame of Surala.

what's in my name?

2008-03-02T22:04:00.000-08:00

My first entry in the states if i am coming from Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Island is San Juan, Puerto, a US Commonwealth. As expected, you have to undergo the immigration protocol. They would ask your travel intinerary, your work, and other personal things. The procedure is quite rigid if it's your first entry in the states after being granted a visa.

Last February 21, i am again dealing this sort of personal interrogation with a US immigration officer. I don't have any bad experiences with them, it is always pleasant. It is just that there is always something unsual each time i am faced with them.

Here it goes:

Rommel: Hi. How are you?

Immigration Officer: I am good. and you?

Rommel: I am good. Thank you.

Immigration Officer: Oh. You're family name is Sofia. Do you know that Sofia is a capital of...

Rommel: Bulgaria. And it is also means wisdom in Ancient Greek.

Immigration Officer: Wow. You really knew about your family name. Your parents must be proud of you.

I am just smiling. He is checking my passport.

Immigration Officer: Your parents must be historians. Defensor. Rommel Defensor.

Rommel: Hahaha means defender. Do you remember the general who had tried to kill hitler? General Erwin Rommel? My name is like saying, General Rommel Defender of Wisdom

Immigration Officer: Wow. What a wonderful name! You should send my congratulations to your parents. They must be very proud of you, a refined and well-bred gentleman.

Rommel: I will. That is why I am going home. I am going to celebrate mny birthday in the Philippines.

Immigration Officer: Oh. Happy birthday. What do you do in British Virgin Islands.

Rommel: I am an accountant.

Immigration Officer: That is cool. Accountant.

I finished affixing my index fingers and a snap of my face.

Rommel: Whoa! I am done. Thank you so much.

Immigration Officer: Enjoy your vacation and happy birthday.

Whew.

this is life...

2008-02-29T18:12:00.000-08:00

I am enjoying my stay in the province, my first couple of days as a 28th year old, and my blessed beautiful life. :)

I woke up as early as 4AM this morning, start my GMAT review on sentence correction and after an hour and a half of brain crunching, i have my morning jog. After 30 minutes jogging with my niece, i visited the tombs of my grandparents and relatives. It's been my routine every time i am home, i take time to visit them. Just a simple hi and hello.

During my jog, i really could not hide the happiness and contentment that i am enjoying. This is life! You'll wake early, have your 30 minutes jog, a quick shower, read the morning paper, and your breakfast.

You go to your office, just a 5 minute drive, and at the end of the day, you retire, in the comfort of home. You watch the news, have your dinner, a chit chat with your family, a good book to read before going to sleep.

I can't wait!!! I cant wait when i reach my 35 years of age. I am professionally satisfied, already earned the CFA designation, my MBA in INSEAD, and at the same time, i am finacially secured. I have my home, a farm, a summer/beach house, businesses, a couple of cars, and a satisfying work as a consultant. hahaha i have seven years to have all these to fulfill. And i want all these in the province. City life does not appeal to me. I find the tranquility of life in a rustic environment.

Oh! you might ask, how about my partner in life. Yeah, i plan to settle down at the age of 35.

these are just wishful thinking, why not?! if God is more than willing.

wow! I am 28...

2008-02-27T20:23:00.000-08:00

My 27th year was very wonderful. And I have ended it on a flight going home. I woke up as early as 3AM To get ready myself for my 7AM flight going to the province, sa "bayan kong sinilangan (Timog Kutabato).

I have a restful 2 hour flight via Philippine Airlines, excited to celebrate my 28th birthday with my parents and the comfort of home. I spent the flight either answering my GMAT reviewer and chit chat with my seatmate.

Wow. I almost forgot, February 27 rin pala ang foundation day ng General Santos. Festive mood ang airport sa pagdating ko. Hahaha ANd my nanay was beaming nung makita ako. Hahaha natumba pa yung luggage, buti na lang nakita ako kaagad ng tatay ko and he help me out sa pagbitbit hanggang sa van.

While on the way going sa Surallah, binigay ko na sa nanay at tatay ko ang pasalubong kong watch i bought sa Japan. Ako yung me birthday and yet ako ang me regalo. Mabuti naman at nagustuhan nila, i bought them a simple swiss made Tissot.

I am deadtired. Me jetlag pa rin ako sa 2 day flight ko, despite spending three days sa manila. and my nanay keep on texting me about her surprise birthday party sa akin. hahaha my nanay does not fail to celebrate my birthday even I am not around. Taon taon talaga yan, pinaghahandaan nya, kahit saang sulok man ako ng Pilipinas o ng mundo. How much more pa na I am home!!! Andaming handa ng nanay ko at andami nya ring bisita. Hindi ako makapagpahinga. hahaha

Andito ako ngayon sa cafe, nag cheheck ng mga mails, at nag tatrabaho. hahaha the disadvantage of computer age. ANg bakasyon, me kasamang kunting work. hahahan I was feel elated sa mga messages, friendster comments, facebook mails, and greetings sa birthday ko. Grabe, nalulula ako sa charm ko. ANd I really appreciate it.

WHat are my plans for my 28th year?! CAreer ang focus ko ngayon. Wala muna sigurong lovelife. PEro pag me kumatok, why not. I just checked yung predictions ko for this year, I'll be working hard raw at disciplining myself this year. SIguro, super stick na talaga ako sa study schedules and review ko. INSEAD FRAnce/Singapore in Jan 2009!!! Yahoo!!! Pray for my GMAT exam this March 7 sa makati.

Promising din ang lovelife ko, sabi indication of getting engaged, married, the beginning of a significant new relationship, or the intensification of an existing romance. Wow! Sino kaya ang malas na taong eto?! Tingnan natin.

Pero very evident ang increase of responsibility, and career movements ko this year. We'll see. I'll keep you posted.

I got visits today.. and i am so happy

2008-02-17T16:51:00.000-08:00

I always feel loved here in the virgin islands. It seems that everyone adores my craziness. Well, ganun talaga pag maganda. hahaha i sometimes wonder why do people like me.

But anyway, today, i got visits from friends. conversations over a cup of coffee. talking about anything, about life, about the beauty of the world. these sort of conversations i terribly miss. these reminds me of my friends back in the philippines. oh, they are now everywhere in the globe. Australia, Dubai, Singapore, United States. Indeed, the world has now become a global village.

Global village, another open discussion. probably, just for the privilege few. those nationals who need not have to secure visa when travelling, people belong to higher strata of society, individuals gifted of talents and intellect, professionals with superb credentials, and ordinary people who try to be different.

My two visits for day left an imprint from my bookshelves. i lent to them my two favorite books, "the alchemist" of paulo coelho and "tuesdays with morrie" of mitch albom.

The first book urges me to follow my dreams, and the second book, allows me to understand that life's complexities can be broken down into simple truths.

colds is so fast, it left me unguarded. good thing i have my music

2008-02-16T05:25:00.000-08:00

Should I say, what a beautiful Saturday morning? I got colds. I just hope it won't lead to fever. I still have a lot of work to do and I only have three days left before my vacation holiday. Yes,five sleepless nights to go.

I am only having my ice cream time, after my tumultuous interaction with my GMAT review. I am now in reading comprehension. And again, it is a dismal. English really gives me headache. I suppose to start sentence correction, but i am getting disappointed with my brain, god, it's brain-dead. It seems that i didn't learn anything from my grade school english.

Last night, i was at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, the only college in the island, to watch the performance of Ahn Trio. It was an exhilirating experience, I would say, they did not fail to impress the audience. One of the best chamber music performance I've watched.

The Ahn Trio are three Korean American sisters who make up a classical piano trio. Their names are Angella (violin), Lucia (piano) and Maria (cello). Lucia and Maria are twins.

They were trained at Juilliard in New York. They achieved widespread recognition in the United States in 1987 when TIME Magazine featured them in a cover story about "Asian Whizz-kids". In 2003, they were selected by People Magazine as three of the "Most Beautiful People" and have been featured in Vogue, GQ and in ads for GAP and Anne Klein.

They have performed in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Hawaii, Singapore, Moscow, Seoul, Berea, Kentucky, Tennessee and Salt Lake City. (from wikipedia)

I really do not know what have come to my mind that now I am indulging myself into music. Love?! hahaha am i inlove? Most of my collections now are classical, i got a Sergej Rachmaninoff complete recordings, a couple of broadway CDs, a copy of few Horowitz performances, connected on classical crossover stations, etc. But i still love to listen to west life, hillsong united, michael learns to rock, and other Filipino artist.

I was with bing in the perfromance last night, and she has commented with my current choice of music. Good thing I have changed my preference. hahaha they've been used to know that i am into pop. gosh! Even gold was surprised to learn that i was into classical, even wayback in college.

However, i still prefer silence. Silence is still the best music for me. Just like now, I could heart the sound of the wind brushing in my window curtains, the crow of the rooster, little chit-chat of my neighbours, the palpitations of my heart, and silence.

Hey, i have to go back to my review now.

I am not eavesdropping

2008-02-11T14:16:00.000-08:00

"Why is it you don't enjoy sex? You said you are gay. But how come you don't enjoy sex?" This got my attention in one of an intimate conversation with a good friend about his sexual escapade in the island. Read along his story.

Kring.kring.kring. No. it's not 1200 midnight. It is still 830, and I am leaving the party. It was a call from someone.

I immediately proceeded to the parking area after I bid my goodbye from the birthday host. She is pretty much aware why I had a Cinderella exit. I am meeting a French gentleman. When I arrived home, I hurriedly freshen up myself, brush my teeth, put on some perfume, and check the necessities - condoms, lube, etc.

When I am already in the vicinity of his hotel, I saw an old guy in the stairway and he seems to be waiting for someone. I have taken aback. Nah, I still proceeded going to the hotel, just to be sure he is indeed the French gentleman. While I am on the stairs, I keep on asking myself, should I go on or not? Alas, I decided to go home. I lost my excitement, I am a little disappointed. I called my friend to share my disappointment, but he is not answering the phone and as well as his wife's. I decided to text a message instead and when I am about to send the message, my phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Are you coming?"

"Yes. I am. Are you the guy on the stairs, the guy with the white hair?"

"Yes? No, I am not."

"Because I already went there and I saw an old guy waiting in the stairway. Was it you? How old are you? "

"No. It is not me. I am 38."

If he is 38 years old, then he is not that old guy I saw because that guy was around early 60s. I asked him to go out in his room and wait for me in the stairs.

I go back to the hotel, and to my surprise. Good heavens! He is extremely good looking. He is the same guy in the photo he sent to me. I was so excited. He let me come in his hotel room. It was nice spacious two beds room.

"Could I use the wash room? Please. I will just pee." I think I was inside the washroom for a couple of minutes. Nah, I am not nervous.

He had asked me to sit beside him. He is so sweet. He would caress me as we watch the TV together. Sorry, but I can't remember what's in the small screen, I was busy enjoying his sensual touches. He asked me about my work, how long I have been living in the island. He gradually told me about his work too, his family and as our talk got deeper, so as our clothes slowly leaving our body. He seems to like my body. He keep on touching it, sometime he would pinch my butt cheeks or my back. He would kiss my neck, nibble my bosom, he would said, "you have a very nice body. It is so smooth."

"Do you want me to mount you now?" He'd asked. I am very hesitant, he is too big. I know I can manage it but I am simply afraid. He had inserted his index finger, to loosen my anxiety. "Tell me, if it hurts you. "

He came in slowly. OMG. What's this feeling? I feel like I am going to excrete something. "Please don't. I think I can't manage it. Please." He did not insist.

"I am very sorry to disappoint you. I think I am still not ready on stuff like this. Could we just have talked? "

"OK. What do you like in a sex?"

"I don't like giving a head or being mounted. Could we just kiss each and touch each other?"

"Why is it you don't enjoy sex? You said you are gay. But how come you don't enjoy sex?"

My friend gave me a baffle look.

This make me come to think, Why, if you are gay, you are supposed to enjoy sex? Is homosexual purely revolved into sex? Is it possible that platonic love to exist in a gay relationship? I do not know the answer because I myself also prefer intellectual intercourse.

my fetish for shoes and fashion

2008-02-07T14:27:00.000-08:00

Nah. I am not that obsessed. But, I am been dreaming of putting my own house of fashion, simply labeled as rommel sofia. hahaha just like salvatore ferragamo. in fact, after i earn the right to use the CFA designation and finish my MBA, i plan to enroll in a fashion school. i am eyeing the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. dream on. :D

you might been thinking why not i plunge myself now to fashion design? why do i still have to wait until i complete the CFA program and finish my MBA? my answer, the MBA and the designation would provide me financial security.

my interest in clothing stemmed during my kiddie yaers, my mother is a seamstress and she has a dress shop. i remember, most of my time were spent not in playing but on browsing fashion catalog and drawing my own design.

my personal favorites are french connection, folded and hung, salvatore ferragamo, arrow, yves saint laurent and armani exchange.

you might been wondering why i have come on this topic? i just have watched a salvatore ferragamo fashion runway, and i simply could not put myself off not to dream that someday, i will have my own fashion runway. rommel sofia collection. ehehe ^-^

i am dreading to meet the messenger

2008-02-03T06:17:00.000-08:00

It will be three weeks, I am at home. Of course, I am very excited and anxious as well. I am dreading to meet the messenger.

Who is this "the messenger"? I met this person online sometime five months ago and we've been good onlne buddy for quite a while. I was so fascinated sa kanyang varied interest, classical, photography... This person really has an eye for what is a good picture. Anggaganda ng mga kuha nya and it fails not to convey meaning.

Simula nu'ng nakilala ko sya, andaming nabago sa buhay ko. I begin to indulge myself into things na iniiwasan ko but already been my interest since bata pa ako, music, photography, painting, writing... ika nga, ngayon, binibigyan pansin ko ang mga bagay na nagpapasaya sa akin. Dito ko kasi nailalabas ang aking mga emotion. I remember, nung bata ako, i would retreat myself into drawing on moments of despair and lately nu'ng college ako, sa pagsusulat sa journal ko. ang photography is already a yearning of my heart, kaso hindi ko lang nabigyan ng pansin since hindi ko pa kaya ang bumili ng magandang klaseng camera. i have diverted my interest into theatre, play and cinema.

nahihinuha ko nga, kung etong nararamdaman ko sa kanya ay totoo, at makokonfirm ko sya sa aming pagkikita sa darating na Pebrero, maraming pagbabago ang mangyayari, sa personal kong buhay at maging sa professional. nakakatuwang isipin, minsan sa buhay mo, marerealize mo na kahit gaano ka konkreto ng mga plano mo, pag ikaw nainlab, hindi mo kayang sumalungat sa direksyon na gustong tahakin ng puso mo.

Kaligayahan mo na kasi yun eh, at natagpuan mo na ang hinahanap mo dito. It is indeed a great feeling that you didn't take a lifetime to find hapinness.

Sa ngayon, iisa lang ang dalangin ko, na sana, on the moment i have laid my eye sa kanya, sa una naming pagkikita, papailanlang ang kantang "naked and sacred" ni chynna phillips. ibig sabihin, payag ang dyos sa pagmamahalan namin. :) Why not, di ba?

Naked And Sacred

Chorus:
When I'm with you, I feel naked and sacred
And this world can be so cold
I wanna hold you naked and sacred
Till I grow old

What does love mean? Can love last?
I ask myself these questions, haunted by the past
I've walked these city streets
I've known victoies and defeats
Searchin', hopin', just barley copin'

Baby I want to be good for you
I want to be true
Don't know how I'd live with myself
If I ever hurt you

(Chorus)

Since I met you my life's changed
I feel like a bird that's been let out of it's cage

Baby I want to be good for you
I want to be true
Don't know how I'd live with myself
If I ever hurt you

(Chorus)

Your hand's healing me, your love's filling me
When you go away, your hearts still in me

(Chorus x2)

i am nowhere to be found... i have retreated to my fortress.

2008-02-02T18:20:00.000-08:00

I am extremely busy this past few days doing my year-end schedule. I no longer could find time to update my blog. I am also busy preparing for my GMAT. I am going to take it this March in the Philippines.

Yes! I am going home. I'll be celebrating my birthday in the Philippines. My 27-27-27 year has now come to its end. It was really a good year to me.

I am extremely excited for my three weeks vacation. This is a much needed vacation. This past few months were really been hard to me that it has rob so much of my energy.

Oh, before i forgot. I have created another blog, this is solely dedicated to interest in photography. here's the link perspective027.blogspot.com. I'll be showcasing my various perspective of this beautiful world. check it out.

ciao!

University of the Philippines celebrates its 100 years

2008-01-16T13:53:00.000-08:00

" U.P. made you in such a way that when the world is sitting, you would be standing, and when the world is standing, you would stand out, and when the world stands out, you would be outstanding, and when the world tries to be outstanding, you would be the standard. (In short, naging pasaway ka!) Isang Masaya at may-yabang na sentenaryo sa iyo, Taga-UP!"

Whoa! I am very proud to be an alumnus of the country's premier university and is recognized as one of the leading universities in Asia and the world by international academic standards. It is the highest ranked Philippine university in THES-QS World University Rankings in 2006 and 2007 (#398) and the final edition of the Asiaweek's Best Universities in Asia in 2000 (from wikipedia).

The article below was from Inquirer.net, "UP in the next 100 years".

The University of the Philippines (UP) kicks off its centennial celebration last Tuesday, 8th January and looking forward to the next 100 years, with Excellence, Service and Leadership as the key words in its vision for the future.

The UP, which started as a small institution of learning on Padre Faura Street in Manila in 1908, has grown tremendously in the last 100 years, and has become a university system with seven universities and 12 campuses all over the country. In 1911 it had only seven academic units, now it is offering 258 undergraduate and 438 graduate programs. Students come from almost all the 16 regions and all socio-economic brackets.

The UP has played a very important role in the social, economic and political development of the nation in the last 100 years. It produced seven out of 14 presidents, 12 chief justices of the Supreme Court, 30 out of 31 national scientists and 36 out of 57 national artists. Of the close to 250,000 UP alumni, 15,000 are doctors, 8,000 are lawyers and 23,000 are teachers.

The UP is a descendant of the “universitas,” the 14th century scholastic guilds in Europe. The typical university then consisted of a college of liberal arts and sciences as well as graduate and professional schools having the authority to confer degrees in various fields of study.

In the beginning, universities were concerned principally with intellectual pursuit largely for its own sake and educated a privileged few. The usual caricature of the university man was that of an absent-minded scholar who engaged in esoteric studies and seldom ventured from his ivory tower.

All that has changed, and universities are now places where one can obtain an excellent education, equip oneself with social skills for life and study and train oneself for a profession.

Eric Thomas, vice chancellor of the University of Bristol, says universities are “the search engines of our society -- they create new knowledge.” Universities have always been the marketplace for the exchange and free movement of ideas. They are also forums where students obtain a basic understanding of human rights, civic virtues and ethical values and learn their duties as citizens of a democracy.

The UP, in the 100 years ahead, will have to perform the traditional role of producing complete, “universal” persons, and that means giving them a grounding in the liberal arts, sciences and humanities. But it will also have to prepare them for the real world, and that means giving them the knowledge and training for various professions so that they can earn a living and at the same time contribute to the sum of human knowledge.

Richard Florida, professor of regional economic development at Carnegie Mellon University, said that in the new economy, “ideas and intellectual capital have replaced natural resources and mechanical innovations as the raw material of economic growth.” That is why, he said, the university has become “more critical than ever as a provider of talent, knowledge and innovation in the age of knowledge-based capitalism.”

In these knowledge-driven times, the UP will have to assume a bigger role in national life. But how can it perform its function well when it constantly suffers from lack of funds? Some people have the mistaken notion that a university can run on its own power. But like any other institution, a university has to have sufficient funds to be able to carry out its objectives.

The UP has fallen on hard times principally because of budgetary constraints. It has suffered a brain drain because talented professors have moved to other universities that pay bigger salaries. State-of the-art teaching aids and laboratory equipment are lacking because there are no funds for their acquisition. An indication of the decline of standards at UP is the fact that it barely made it to the list of the THES-QS World University Rankings of the Top 400 Universities, placing 398th.

The leadership of the UP recognizes the real problem of financing and hopes to address this by undertaking an ambitious campaign to raise P5 billion in the next five years. All UP alumni who love their alma mater will have to dig deep into their pockets to help save the university from further decline. Malacañang and Congress should also pitch in by approving more generous outlays for the State University.

it’s no wonder that such an exceptional group of people choose INSEAD as the place to come to change their lives

2008-01-13T13:51:00.000-08:00

This was from the speech of INSEAD 2006 MBA Graduate, Christopher Angell, who gave a heart warming, i think heart wrenching speech about his year in INSEAD. I have posted below a copy of his speech and a you tube link.

Thank you Dean Hawawini.

It’s really hard for me to remember what my life was like before I came to INSEAD, but I do know that in the months preceding my arrival, there are many sleepless nights, wondering, worrying, planning, and anticipating.

What had I gotten myself into? What lay ahead of me? I was excited, I was nervous...It's a lot like I feel right now.

There are many reasons for choosing to do an MBA here, and the INSEAD experience has meant something different to each of us. So while it would be foolish to try to sum up all of our memories in one speech, there is one word that is inescapable in any description of the INSEAD experience, and that is diversity.

There are so many ways to demonstrate the diversity of our class, so many numbers and statistics that we never tire of quoting. We come from 58 countries, we speak over 50 languages (at a level III or better), and we count among our ranks opera singers, fighter pilots, dot-com millionaires, rocket scientists, 2 bankers and a consultant. I have also come up with another, more subtle way to illustrate the diversity of our class: What I did is I played with some of the names that can be made by taking a surname from one of my classmates, and pairing it with the last name of another. Some of my favorites are Jayant Panda, Christian Israeli, Jesus Judah, and, of course, Vijay Umedkumar Sunyer Carreras-Candi. I could go on…

But I won’t, because more impressive and important to me than the variety of names or backgrounds or languages or jobs or any other classification of the group of people with whom I’ve spent the last 10 months are the people themselves.

My impulse at this point is to just start gushing, because these people are AMAZING! You really cannot imagine the wealth of knowledge, compassion, culture, talent, humor, sensitivity, creativity, even occasional business sense that we have been immersed in at INSEAD.

Now, people critical of MBAs as a degree are fond of saying that you can learn the concepts from a book, and the rest you must learn by working. I’ll allow those people their opinion, but here’s mine:

I could spend the next 10 years of my life reading management books and working, and I wouldn’t come away with anything nearly as valuable as what I’ve gained from my 10 months at INSEAD. Although my degree is an MBA, the knowledge I’ve gained here spans all disciplines, and probably constitutes a few new ones as well.

I mean, in what job would an average week include:
• Dining at one of the most beautiful chateaus in Europe, with 10 people from 14 different countries
• Trading finance lessons for camembert and pâté,
• Singing horribly off-key in a private karaoke room
• Playing poker or foosball with 3 people whose names you can’t pronounce
• Heading straight from the library to a costume party at the infamous Le Vieux Moulin on

an island in the Loing river,

• Dancing the night away with 150 of your best friends at a beach club on a man-made island
• Grocery shopping in Asian markets for an after-class barbecue, where you and

your classmates make plans to visit Borneo, Bangkok, Vietnam, Bali and beyond…

All the while soaking up valuable knowledge and insight from some of the finest student minds and management faculty in the world?

Now, all these activities and the flurry of energy definitely took away my nervousness and my anxiety, but still didn’t help me get a full night’s sleep…every hour of sleep was an hour spent not doing one of a thousand other seemingly more valuable things.

With all this and more available, it’s really no wonder that such an exceptional group of people choose INSEAD as the place to come to change their lives.

But to me, just as important, is that INSEAD students are not only here to change themselves; the people you see around me also want to change the world. Over just this year, in addition to completing a rigorous 10-month MBA and job search, some of the students you see here have
• Started a highly successful program that provides support and incentives for young children

in rural Vietnam to stay in school.
• Some have organized fundraisers and clothing drives for the communities that have so

generously hosted us during our studies.
• Others have posed almost nude in downtown Fontainebleau to raise money for survivors of

Hurricane Katrina….I am not gonna explain right now.
• Still more traveled to South Africa to investigate sustainable means of relieving developing

countries from the grip of poverty, crime, and disease.

So I’ve seen how my classmates behave in the face of stiff deadlines, seemingly overwhelming amounts of work, and in heated debates and discussions, but I’ve also seen how they interact with children orphaned by AIDS, and watched them share their professional knowledge with young students from impoverished backgrounds with dreams of starting companies to help uplift their communities. And I assure you, they do you, us, and everyone else very very proud. I hope we can all carry this spirit of generosity with us as we head back into the world, and continue to look beyond ourselves when deciding how to use the incredible gift this year has
been.

OK, so an amazing group of people in an amazing place doing amazing things. But that’s not quite the whole story, because none of us got to INSEAD alone, nor did any of us make it through on our own. Whether it was partners, parents, siblings, children, grandparents or other loved ones, none of us would have survived this year without the patient ears, reassuring smiles, warm hugs, or any of the other countless acts of love and support from those closest to us. On top of that, we always had the guidance of a truly stellar faculty, and fabulously dedicated staff, from top to bottom. Basically what I’m saying is that we were lucky as hell. So,if you don't mine, I’d like to ask my classmates to stand quickly and join me in giving a round of gracious applause for the people who helped us get here today.

I would also like to extend our gratitude to Gabriel Hawawini for his role in making INSEAD such an amazing place, and wish him the best as he moves on. I welcome to Frank Brown to the school; as one of my classmates said, as an American, it’s nice to finally see my people get some recognition on the international stage. But seriously, I hope you keep in mind that it is precisely because INSEAD is un-American in many ways that it is such a unique and wonderful business school.

Well, here we are. To my friends, I want to say thank you all for this fabulous year, and for the honor of speaking to you today. We all have very bright futures ahead of us, and I truly hope that the bonds we have formed during our short year together will last a lifetime. While the thought of our separation is a hard one for me to swallow, but I eagerly look forward to watching you all head off to take over the world. I can finally sleep through the night, knowing that it will be in such good hands.

Whoa! Time really flies so fast.

2008-01-08T18:36:00.000-08:00

It is now Tuesday, January 8 and I still have a lot of reports to do! I just have started my GMAT review. Good heavens! My scores are pitiful, especially in verbal.

I have not started yet my INSEAD essays. Oh my goodness, I really do not know how I am going to manage all of these. I am always sleepy and my brain is always not in good form. When I get home after work, I am freakingly tired.

I am also leaving for my three weeks vacation in the Philippines. I am afraid I could not make my INSEAD application this March 5, I might it defer on the second round, May 21.

I am only praying for the best!

Happy New Year to everyone!

2008-01-01T18:06:00.000-08:00

I have a lot of stories to tell you but I am sooo busy. You know, it's year-end! :) and probably the most exciting period of the year for accountants. hahaha too bad, i am now a controller. ^-^

But I would give you the gist of what I am gonna share with you in the next few days!

- my old year celebration at foxy's in jost van dyke, british virgin islands. whoa! it's a crazy old year party in the caribbean.

- my year-end reflection. 2007 has been great to me!

- 2007... revisited. how i spend my 27-27-27? why 27-27-27? I turned 27 last February 27 in the year 2007. :) I dunno what does it means? it could be 999 or 666. (big grin)

- homosexuals in INSEAD. a naughty thought when i was in the shower yesterday! INSEAD boasts for it multicultural diversity and, I am wondering if it does include diversity in sexual orientation?

Happy new year to everyone! I am pretty sure, 2008 is an another exciting year for us.

year-end reflection

2008-01-01T10:33:00.000-08:00

memories of childhood

This year has really been good to me. I have gone to many parts of the world. I have experienced the luxuries that I have once dreamed. I got stuffs that I have long desired. But I realized my enjoyment and happiness remains in little things - conversations over a cup of coffee, leisure walk, good book. Maybe because I was brought up this way, and I am very grateful!

I might be ambitious, I even have said, I want to reach the summit of the earth and of the heaven! Perhaps, I have said this because I am looking for answers and hoping that when I reach the top, I find someone who will enlighten me. However you will realize having great people around you, is like you are already on top of everything! Loving parents, compassionate friends, and a terrific special someone (hahaha that someone is still a look-up...)

Simple things tickle me. Comments on my social accounts (blogspot, multiply, friendster, facebook), new messages, fashion run way, hug from mom, smile from dad, good news about Philippines (I am very nationalistic), sunsets, friendships, beauty in many forms - it could be Philippine culture and literature, painting, photography, and good sleep.

Too bad, I am not a music enthusiast but I enjoy musical plays (I love sarswela), classical, Broadway. I am a total moron when it comes to music, I might know the lyrics, I might identify what is a good music, but when you would ask me the title, the singer... I will be a total disappointment! I only have indulge myself to music when it has a strong significant to me, it could be because it brought me new joy, pain, smile on my face, memories ... oceans of emotions.

sunset... see you tomorrow

The road to perdition... err INSEAD

2007-12-30T14:38:00.000-08:00

I have been reading all about INSEAD in the past few days! I was been tormented of its requirements. Even in my sleep, I have been thinking how I am going to write an excessively exciting yet truthful essays about myself, my accomplishments, and my craziness. My study is now a total mess. I just have cleaned my room a couple of days ago, and now, it's back to it messiness!

When i get bored at work, i would open the various INSEAD bloggers website whereas detailing their road to perdition, err, INSEAD. :) If you find me crazy, i would be more crazier when i get admitted in INSEAD. One blogger commented about life in INSEAD that the schedule is crazy and the parties are crazier. WHoa!

Read below what I got from wikipedia about INSEAD and its MBA program. You could check as well the website, http://www.insead.edu/

INSEAD is a graduate business school and research institution with campuses in Fontainebleau (near Paris), France and in Singapore. In 2006, an INSEAD Executive Education centre was inaugurated in Abu Dhabi.

The official name of the school is INSEAD (phonetically/pronounced IN-SEE-ADD), originally an acronym for Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires.

One of the world's leading business schools, INSEAD's main differentiation factor lies in its global perspective and multicultural diversity.

Outline of the program
The MBA curriculum is made of a range of required core courses covering traditional management disciplines including finance, economics, organizational behavious, accounting, ethics, marketing, statistics, operations management, international political analysis, supply chain management and corporate strategy. MBA participants are graded on a relative curve and the MBA programme is renowned for its intensity.

All participants are bilingual or more at entry and required to learn a third language before finishing the program. The school officially emphasizes it is a global school, neither a French nor a Singaporean school.

INSEAD's student body comprises more than 70 nationalities, with no nationality representing more than 15% of the student body. Mother tongues of MBA programme participants, July and December 2006 classes, are: English 17%, French 13%, Hindi 8%, Spanish 6%, German 5%, Mandarin 4%, Portuguese 4%, Other 43%.

The Admissions Committee selects candidates from a pool of applicants on the basis of various qualities and look in particular for excellent academic performance, career progress, interpersonal skills and leadership potential.

All applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent, be fluent in English and are required to submit a lengthy application with detailed essays supporting their case, two recommendations, their Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score and academic transcripts. MBA participants' average GMAT score is currently 702 (class of July 2007).

Applicants who successfully pass the initial screening process by the Admissions Committee are invited to two separate interviews conducted by alumni in their country of residence.

INSEAD has two full facility campuses in Fontainebleau, France, and in Singapore. They are officially called Europe Campus and Asia Campus respectively. There is no distinction in admissions and most elective courses are offered across both campuses.

All MBA participants can choose a preferred campus to start the MBA programme, and after the first two periods they have an option to move to either location (or to the Wharton school) in each of the third to fifth periods (in 2001, an alliance between INSEAD and the Wharton School was announced). Professors also move between campuses throughout a year. More than 70% of December 2006 class MBA participants have opted to exchange between the two campuses.

2008... another crazy year!

2007-12-30T13:44:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, will be the last day of the year 2007! Whoa! Happy New Year to everyone!

I can't remember when i got this tag, Crazy accountant! Our salesman, a new zealander, really loves to call me "crazy accountant". And i would do the same favor to him, crazy new zealander. My manager also calls me "carzy boy". "Where's the crazy boy", he would ask my assistant if he is looking for me. Hahaha I admit that i am crazy! Everybody seems to love my craziness.

Whoa! 2007 has end. An exciting 2008 awaits for me. What are my plans for the coming year? It will be my last year in the nature's little secrets. Let's have a peek where my craziness will lead me this year.

January - I will be busy preparing for my GMAT. I might take it either last week of January in St. Thomas, USVI or in the Philippines during my 3 weeks vacation.

February - I would be busy as ever preparing my INSEAD essay, 2 professional and 5 personal. I would need good critics on this please, MBA in INSEAD, France or no MBA at all. And i need a very good essay. Last week of february, I'll be leaving for my vacation in the Philippines. I want to celebrate my birthday in the comfort of my home.

March - deadline for the INSEAD application. And enjoying my vacation in the Philippines. I might as well meet a very good friend who has virtually smitten my "heart(?)". Let's wait and see. I am only praying that the moment we meet and while we are together, the song "naked and sacred" will be played somewhere.

April - I am really crossing my fingers that I will be admitted in INSEAD. I can't wait juggling between Singapore and France for my one year MBA in one of the world's best Business School. Please include me in prayers. I should impress my interviewer! :0) that we share the same INSEAD quality.

May - I might be anticipating the acceptance of my INSEAD MBA dream. or I might be entertaining the idea of moving in Channel Islands or decided to join with Wally in Gilbraltar.

June - should I take the CFA exam or not? Let's see how will i prepare for the exam. It's freakingly difficult.

July to November - I don't have anything in mind yet. I am definitely be busy with my other distracting activities. I might be indulging more on my paintings, photography, writing, or reading. or worse, sleeping! hahaha Can i include diving and island hopping? I want to immerse myself to the beauty of British Virgin Islands! Remember, it will be my last year.

December - It's goodbye. A fleeting goodbye to everyone who has loved me enormously! Their love has made my stay like i never been away from home!

But let's wait and see for the coming year! I'll keep you posted.

a text message from my nanay

2007-12-30T13:37:00.000-08:00

I really love every time i receive text messages from my beloved nanay.

This sunday morning, as I prepare myself for the mass, my gmail notified me that I have received a text message in my chikka. And it was from my nanay. She is informing me that my high school classmates solicited for our class reunion.

After a few minutes, she texted me again, about the death of my godmother.

"Toto, nalimtan ko nga hambalon ikaw nga napatay si maninay mo menang. subong ko lang man nabal-an". (Toto, I forgot to inform you that your godmother, menang died. I just have learned it.")
"Ha?! Napatay sya? Ano ang kabangdanan?" (Ha?! She died? What happened?")
"Kumplaykidid ang iya sakit", her reply.

My nanay is trying to tell me, that it's complicated. My godmother has been suffering of her disease and been in and out of the hospital. My condolences to her family.

Whoa! My nanay doesn't fail to make me smile when she tries to text me in english. My beloved nanay, my spelling tutor and my coach in scrabble. I remember, when I was a kid, I could not win over her in scrabble but I won first place in a scrabble competition when i was in high school.

Anyhow, the text generation could not capture her spelling prowess or it could be she is not getting any younger. She is now 63 years old.

a wide-eyed wanderer

2007-12-28T16:57:00.000-08:00

It's really been my dream to work in a company whereas I would make decisions using the intricate mathematical models of finance, economics, probability, statistics, and quantitative analysis. Audit work doesn’t appeal to me, because I am well aware that my work responsibility is limited to vouching the accuracy of the client's financial statements. I have spent two years working in Honda Cars Makati and decided to resign when my work bores me to death. But it was in Honda that I gained an interest on the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. I have learned that our CFO is into this strenuous examination. She's been my idol when I was in Honda, aside from the fact that she is into CFA, she is also a CPA board topnotcher and graduated with Latin honors. Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed when I have learned that she earned her degree not from the big three university. I am very partial for UP (my alma mater), DLSU-Manila, and AdMU. It was also in Honda that I have decided to pursue further studies. I was simply in awe of the post-masteral salary when I attended the two-day MBA program at the Asian Institute of Management. Imagine you'll be earning at least 200K to 300K a month. But you have to shell out a million pesos during your MBA in AIM.

I find the MBA passé, so I decided to take up MS in Computational Finance at the DLSU-Manila. But I didn't finish the program because I am having difficulty juggling my time and finances. And also during this time, I was toying the idea of moving to audit. After two years of working in Honda, I seem to realize that it is the audit exposure would help me identify where will really be my career path. I got an offer from Intel and Joaquin Cunanan. I accepted the Joaquin Cunanan. I have said, this is it! I am now in PricewaterhouseCoopers, the world's largest professional organisation. I was offered an advisory associate position as an IT auditor with focus on Financial Services. Whoa! My CPA license is useless since I’ll be spending my time understanding the IT environment of our client. This is not what I like to work, this is a total deviation of my dream career and my heart really bleeds understanding computer concepts! In short, I am a total moron when it comes to computer. My performance in PwC was a total dismal. I resigned after almost six months of fooling myself.

I have nowhere to go! It was December of 2005. Nagpaskong tuyo ako. Working in corporate world bores me. I no longer like working in Makati. I want to go home. I miss the comfort of home. I was simply burn out with my life. I go home in the province. No plans of tomorrow. The 50-year plan is a trash.

balance sheet of life

2007-12-25T16:51:00.000-08:00

Our Birth is our Opening Balance!

Our Death is our Closing Balance! Our Prejudiced Views are our Liabilities

Our Creative Ideas are our Assets

Heart is our Current Asset

Soul is our Fixed Asset

Brain is our Fixed Deposit

Thinking is our Current Account

Achievements are our Capital

Character & Morals, our Stock-in-Trade

Friends are our General Reserves

Values & Behavior are our Goodwill

Patience is our Interest Earned

Love is our Dividend

Children are our Bonus Issues

Education is Brands / Patents

Knowledge is our Investment

Experience is our Premium Account

The Aim is to Tally the Balance Sheet Accurately.

The Goal is to get the Best Presented Accounts Award.

Some very Good and Very bad things ...

The most destructive habit......................Worry

The greatest Joy...............................Giving

The greatest loss.......Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work...............Helping others

The ugliest personality trait.............Selfishness

The most endangered species.........Dedicated leaders

Our greatest natural resource...............Our youth

The greatest "shot in the arm"..........Encouragement

The greatest problem to overcome.................Fear

The most effective sleeping pill........Peace of mind

The most crippling failure disease............ Excuses

The most powerful force in life..................Love

The most dangerous pariah........ A gossip

The world's most incredible computer........The brain

The worst thing to be without................... Hope

The deadliest weapon.......................The tongue

The two most power-filled words..............."I Can"

The greatest asset..............................Faith

The most worthless emotion..................Self-pity

The most beautiful attire......................SMILE!

The most prized possession................Integrity

The most powerful channel of communication.....Prayer

The most contagious spirit.................Enthusiasm

The most important thing in life..................GOD

Life ends; when you stop Dreaming,

Hope ends; when you stop Believing,

Love ends; when you stop Caring,

And Friendship ends; when you stop Sharing...!!!

it is christmas eve in the Philippines

2007-12-24T09:50:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to call my mother and greet her a Merry Christmas! I have tried to call her at exactly 12midnight in the Philippines but I was able to contact her at around 12:10 and I was in Bolo's then looking for nice christmas gifts for friends.

I have asked her what they have prepared for christmas and how they have celebrated it. I have sent her enough funds to celebrate the holiday, I even have hustled the heat of going to the bank and the long queque just to make sure they will receive the funds before the christmas eve. But to my dismay, they never prepared and they slept early. They didn't celebrate the noche buena and worse they did not invite my widowed aunt to come over. This really bleed my heart, celebrating the christmas all by yourself.

I have clearly itirated to her that once she have withdrawn the funds, she makes sure that she gave to my aunt my christmas present and as well as to my dad. It was just a very simple request. I just want everyone to be happy this holiday.

Upon hearing it, I was totally exasperated to the point that I really hate her.

It is already 2AM in the Philippines and I know they are sleeping now but I cannot help it not to text her how frustrated I am. I just wish I could call her now and barrage of my disappointment. I will call her!

welcome to blogosphere...

2007-12-24T09:25:00.000-08:00

Welcome to blogosphere!

the 24th of December 2007, 1:34PM - British Virgin Islands
the 25th of December 2007, 1:34AM - the Philippines

This blogs would entails all the disturbances of my emotions and this will cover any of the following:

a. personal - all about me
b. career - finding my path in CFA and my MBA applications
c. travel - my experiences in various places that i've been too
d. émigré - how i spend my life as an expatriate
e. interest - all about my distractions - photography, painting, fashion, reading, writing
f. others - anything that baffles me, of the beauty of the world!

Welcome to my blog.

Merry Christmas to everyone!